Surviving the Apocalypse

Expansion

Hanna woke up with 13 days left on the clock, amazed at how everything was progressing with their plan. Without even realizing it, she had recruited 113 people to the Camp so far. All of them working 12-16 hours a day every day to get the Camp ready for society as they knew it to collapse. Every thing she warned them about as major events had happened, making all of them believe more and more that her other predictions would come true as well. She had finished selling off the shares in her trust she had barely gained control of 3 days before they suspended the stock market as the Coronavirus began sweeping the globe, initiating shutdowns that would create havoc in the markets.

They however kept operating like normal, all of them realizing that what she had warned about was beginning. She had told them all exactly how it would start, so they all began working as hard as they could on everything they needed. Pamela had finished setting up the greenhouses with different crop types as spring shifted to summer, the wells providing more than enough water as she finally managed to control the flow of the water from the flooded shafts and finished their conversion into actual fish habitats that would support millions of fish with their sheer size. One she had set up for shrimp, and another scallops, the rest would support 4 different species of fish including Salmon, Sturgeon, Walleye and Trout. She had found her system would allow her to reshape how the pools were, making them far larger than they had been before, especially as there had been plenty of room between the shafts where they had excavated the ore rich veins. The other 5 were still hundreds of feet deep, but she had also added a shallower area surrounding all of them that was only a few feet deep that they would be able to separate into large sections and raise the fish in a controlled environment before releasing them to the larger pools. The bottoms of the pools had been sealed, the flow of water redirected into a catchment system that would allow them to use the water however they needed to, providing them with 200 gallons per hour on top of what the wells could provide. The best part was the 10 million gallon cistern they had diverted it into, so that they could pump it into the greenhouses, cattle and farm areas whenever they needed it. If they didn't use it all, the overflow had been designed to drain right into the river after creating a waterfall that would allow them to cool off on hot days.

Now even the kids who had just been let out of school for the summer were increasing the numbers of hands doing work, over 1,000 acres of their land planted in different crops to feed both them and the cattle that had been setup on the other 1,000 acres to graze. Each week they had emptied the auction house, paying nearly the same prices as they had the first week, each person who went authorized to access her funds for the transaction as they realized she hadn't been joking about purchasing any supplies or equipment they recommended she get before the world ended.

Melissa informed her that another 5,000 acres right next to the warehouse had been listed for sale, all of it perfect farmland for them to utilize that was reasonably priced because the old farmer had just passed away. It was a deal she knew she couldn't afford to miss, especially as she had bought the drilling rig for the wells that they would need to keep it working through the drought years that were coming up.

She immediately purchased it for $10 million, bringing her total spent on the Camp, supplies, equipment and livestock to $1 billion. As soon as she did, it gave her a Tier one reward of an automation system for the trucks and equipment, as well as improving them to all brand new quality and upgrade packages. As well as giving her a defensive enhancement she could deploy once the apocalypse that would increase their walls height and thickness by 50 percent. She however still had $2 billion from the liquidation of all the assets in her trust, money she knew she was going to have a difficult time spending in the amount of time she had left before the Apocalypse. 13 days was all she had left as she looked at the email that came in that authorized her to buy a large amount of firearms and weaponry that was usually restricted from civilian use. She however had counted on the fact she was technically a Colonel to get past it as she jumped into one of the newly enhanced trucks and took it to the local military equipment supply.

Her military id and authorization getting her past the guards at the gate that prevented civilians from entering. When she walked inside, she surprised the supply Sergeant that was on duty. Her ID card automatically pulled up her authorization as he whistled about the class 5 designation.

"What would you be wanting?" he asked as she smiled.

"Everything." she replied with a smile. "I need 500 class 6 combat armor suits, 1,000 Assault Rifles, 3,000 pistols, 500 shotguns, a phalanx defense system, M40s, everything." she said as it had been authorized as a point defense system.

He smiled as he looked at her. "Yes ma'am, we also have an anti air system that can be deployed if you would be interested." he told her as she smiled and had him lead the way.

After 90 minutes of him showing her through what he had available, she ordered $1.4 billion worth of hardware and ammunition, including the anti air system with 6 mobile radar stations and the phalanx antipersonnel system that used 30 gatlin guns shooting 15mm ammunition at 4,500 rounds per minute.

They loaded a bunch of it into her truck, as she had the other 5 come to her location as well, temporarily authorized to transport only. As soon as they loaded everything aboard, all 6 trucks and trailers pulled out as the Sergeant went back to what he was doing. It however had given her the Tier 2 reward, leaving her with only $600 million left to spend in her remaining 12 days that she would be able to use to improve the camp and supply situation. It gave her an AI system that would monitor the defensive systems and cameras they had deployed, none of them coming online until the apocalypse actually began.

When the 113 people in the Camp saw all the armor, guns and ammo as well as the missile systems that would protect them from air threats beyond zombies, they all realized she wasn't joking as they went into the secured storage inside the bunker to await the end.

"You are serious about the threat we face?" Peter asked as everyone gathered around.

"I have been telling all of you that for 2 weeks now. We are not preparing for a make believe threat that may not come to pass. Some of you are beginning to question what is happening, as we get closer. I have noticed it clearly as we work. Pamela, you are wondering if you have some new ability to control plants because they seem to respond to you more. I can assure you that it is indeed an ability, and more of us may develop different ones. James, I noticed you lifting that 500 pound beam with ease the other day. What I have been saying is not a guess, because like some of you, I also have abilities. One of them I didn't discover before it was too late, 5 years into the future that is quickly repeating itself. This time, I will not be caught unaware. This Camp represents the last hope humanity is going to have between survival and extinction. I fully intend to survive, anyone who wishes to join me knows what is expected. We work hard to make sure this Camp survives, for without it, none of us will survive for long either." she told them bluntly as many of them began nodding realizing they were indeed developing enhanced abilities.

"How much more time do we have left?" one of the residents asked.

Hanna sighed as she looked at the 16 year old girl who had asked. "Tomorrow at 0947 we will have exactly 12 days before the apocalypse happens. It is my goal that we have all equipment and supplies necessary for us to survive delivered and stored in our Camp within the next 10 days. In fact, in the morning I will be advancing the final payments and bonuses to all those who have helped make this Camp what it is, as well as giving all of you the next 2 days to do what you need and bring what you wish to have. Once everything falls apart, we will do everything we have to to rebuild a human society that will stand strong for the rest of time." she told them as she knew that would be a good way to spend some of her money.

She gave each of them $1 million to spend on anything they needed, no matter the age of the resident. It only cost 113 million, accounting for each member of the Alliance as parents would also be able to buy anything their children needed.

That evening they had a feast, word of the payment already being distributed spreading quickly when one of the residents had checked their balance to plan what they would be purchasing over the next two days. The news ignited a firestorm as several teens argued they should be allowed to spend their bonus they way they wished, causing a small argument that Hanna ended when she raised her hands for their attention.

"I would like everyone's attention, as this will be an important time for us to decide how our society will work going forward. In history, once a person became 14 years old, they were given more choice in how their lives would unfold. Today, we force our children to wait until they are 18 before they are considered adults. I personally experienced the harsh reality of the world at 16, and believe they should be given the choice. However we as a Camp will decide what we ourselves believe is appropriate. Those of you who believe we need to remain with the age of majority at 18, please indicate by raising your hand." she said as only a dozen of the mothers did so. Hanna recording their vote dutifully.

"Those in favor of 16?" she asked as over 70 hands rose into the air, her count taking 2 minutes as she nodded. "Very well, for Camp Hope the age of maturity will be 16 years of age. Those parents who received payment on behalf of a child older than 16 must surrender it for them to spend as they see fit over the next two days." she told them settling the argument in a way none of them could argue with as only 8 teenagers were effected by the ruling. Half a dozen 14 and 15 year olds disappointed by the ruling.

"What if we will be 16 within a few days? Should we not also have the ability to spend the money how we want as it is meant for our benefit in the future." Nathaniel Meyers asked as his father looked at him.

"How about a compromise Nathan, your mother and I will let you spend 75 percent of it how you wish for your future. The other 25 percent we will purchase other things we believe you will need in that future." his father Morgan offered as he nodded.

"Ms. Hanna, would it be acceptable for me to purchase a 4 season motorhome and park it here for my personal residence?" Nathaniel asked as she chuckled.

"We will setup an area for any family who wishes to utilize that method for personal space inside the Camp. We will also be building houses over the next few months for any family that wishes to have one of those instead." Hanna offered them as they continued dinner together.